COVID-19 cases up in La Salle County, but county’s risk level improves

A week before Thanksgiving gatherings and Christmas festivals are expected, COVID-19 cases were up in La Salle County, yet more ICU beds were available within the region — improving the county’s risk status.

There were 223 new confirmed cases since Nov. 12, which is 24 more new cases than the previous week. There also were 121 residents removed from isolation. Five new hospital admissions from COVID-19 were reported in the past seven days, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. There were no deaths from complications related to COVID-19 in the past week.

Making up the new cases were 15 boys younger than 13, 24 girls younger than 13, six teenage boys, nine teenage girls, 16 men in their 20s, 14 women in their 20s, 13 men in their 30s, 22 women in their 30s, 12 men in their 40s, 20 women in their 40s, 15 men in their 50s, 18 women in their 50s, 10 men in their 60s, 10 women in their 60s, six men in their 70s, six women in their 70s, a man in his 80s, two women in their 80s, a man in his 90s and three women in their 90s.

By ZIP code, there were 65 new cases in Ottawa, 25 in Streator, 18 in Peru, 16 in La Salle, 15 in Marseilles, nine in Mendota, nine in Sheridan, nine in Somonauk, nine in Oglesby, seven in Ransom, six in Leland, six in Sandwich, five in Grand Ridge, five in Utica, five in Seneca, three in Rutland, two in Earlville, two in Dana, two in Lostant, two in Millington, one in Cedar Point and one in Wenona.

La Salle County improved its COVID-19 risk status because there are 20.6% of ICU beds available within its health region, which is above the 20% target.

La Salle County continues to experience a new case rate greater than 50 cases per 100,000 people (at 200 per 100,000). Until La Salle County can get a handle on the number of new cases being identified each week and slow the community spread, La Salle County will continue to be at risk for returning to the warning level, the La Salle County Health Department said.

There are 56,660 fully-vaccinated residents in La Salle County, which is 51.78% of the county’s population. There are 61,568 residents who have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is 56.26% of the county’s population.

For information on how to get a vaccine, go to www.vaccines.gov. The La Salle County Health Department has COVID -19 vaccine available at the health department on Etna Road in Ottawa by appointment only, Monday through Friday. The health department has Johnson and Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer available. Residents who still need to be vaccinated should call the health department at 815-433-3366 to make an appointment.

The health department also offers booster doses on a weekly basis, by appointment only. Additionally, the La Salle County Health Department offers the Pfizer vaccine for children on a weekly basis, by appointment only. To schedule an appointment for a booster dose or children’s vaccination go to www.lasallecounty.org and click on the “COVID-19 vaccine information” icon. There are links to schedule an appointment for a booster dose of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson.

Hospitalization totals

OSF HealthCare did not release information this week on the number of hospitalizations within its chain.

Morris Hospital reported Friday it has nine patients hospitalized from COVID-19 — eight of them unvaccinated. One of those patients, who is unvaccinated, is in ICU. There are no COVID-19 patients on a ventilator.